How to remove Antivirus (Uninstall Guide)

Posted by Grinler on October 8, 2009 @ 08:56 PM · Views: 2,146

Add to Favorites!    Print Guide!

What this programs does:

Antivirus is a scareware program from the same family as Antivirus Pro 2010. This rogue is promoted through the use of malware that installs it onto your computer without your permission. Once installed it will configure Antivirus to start automatically when you login to Windows. Once started, it will scan your computer and then display numerous infections that it will not remove until you purchase the program. The infections that it states are on your computer, though, do not actually exist and are only being shown to scare you into thinking that you are infected. When the program is installed it will also modify your Windows HOSTS file so that it can show you web sites that appear to be from well known companies that include PCmag.com, techradar.com, zdnet.com, and cnet.com, but are in fact controlled by the developers of Antivirus. These sites contain fake reviews of Antivirus that state that the program is highly rated and should be purchased to protect your computer.

Antivirus screen shot
For more screen shots of this infection click on the image above.
There are a total of 9 images you can view.

When the program is running you will also see numerous alerts appear on your desktop stating that your computer is under attack. Antivirus will also display a fake Windows Security center that looks exactly like the legitimate one. The only difference is that it will promote Antivirus as a Microsoft recommend security application. As you can see, Antivirus was designed to trick you into thinking you are infected through fake alerts and scan results, while at the same time creating an image that it is a excellent program through fake review sites. With this said, if you are infected with Antivirus then please use the removal guide below. If you have already purchased the program then we suggest you contact your credit card company to dispute the charges.

Threat Classification:

• Information on Rogue Programs & Scareware

Advanced information:

View Antivirus files.
View Antivirus Registry Information.

Entries for this program found in the Add or Remove Programs control panel:

Antivirus

Tools Needed for this fix:

• Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware

Symptoms that may be in a HijackThis Log:

O1 - Hosts: 174.142.113.204 clear-virus.info
O1 - Hosts: 70.38.11.165 review.2009softwarereviews.com
O1 - Hosts: 70.38.11.165 a1.review.zdnet.com
O1 - Hosts: 70.38.11.165 d1.reviews.cnet.com
O1 - Hosts: 70.38.11.165 reviews.toptenreviews.com
O1 - Hosts: 70.38.11.165 reviews.download.com
O1 - Hosts: 70.38.11.165 reviews.pcadvisor.co.uk
O1 - Hosts: 70.38.11.165 reviews.pcmag.com
O1 - Hosts: 70.38.11.165 reviews.pcpro.co.uk
O1 - Hosts: 70.38.11.165 reviews.reevoo.com
O1 - Hosts: 70.38.11.165 reviews.riverstreams.co.uk
O1 - Hosts: 70.38.11.165 reviews.techradar.com
O1 - Hosts: 70.38.11.165 av2010pro.com
O1 - Hosts: 70.38.11.165 review.deutsch.eazel.com
O1 - Hosts: 70.38.11.165 reviews.download.softwareload.de
O1 - Hosts: 70.38.11.165 r1.downloads.phpnuke.org
O1 - Hosts: 70.38.11.165 www.anti.actebis.com
O1 - Hosts: 70.38.11.165 www.antivirus-review.channelpartner.de
O1 - Hosts: 70.38.11.165 www.reviews.chip.de
O1 - Hosts: 70.38.11.165 www.dah5.ppks.net
O1 - Hosts: 70.38.11.165 www.test-reviews.softguide.de
O1 - Hosts: 70.38.11.165 www.review.virenschutz.ch
O1 - Hosts: 70.38.11.165 www.reviews.wave-computer.de
O1 - Hosts: 70.38.11.165 www.about.zdnet.de
O1 - Hosts: 70.38.11.165 www.soft-review.zdnet1.de
O1 - Hosts: 70.38.11.165 reviews.livix.blogspot.com
O1 - Hosts: 70.38.11.165 www.review-antivirus.alegsa.com.ar
O1 - Hosts: 70.38.11.165 www.ra1.analisis-antivirus.com
O1 - Hosts: 70.38.11.165 www.review.antivirusgratis.com.ar
O1 - Hosts: 70.38.11.165 www.soft-review.directoriowarez.com
O1 - Hosts: 70.38.11.165 www.arbest.grupogeek.com
O1 - Hosts: 70.38.11.165 www.best-reviews.pcasalvo.com
O1 - Hosts: 70.38.11.165 www.testing-av.pcdecasa.net
O1 - Hosts: 70.38.11.165 www.rz-x.wei.cl
O1 - Hosts: 70.38.11.165 www.review.yoreparo.com
O1 - Hosts: 70.38.11.165 reviews.coprocessing.be
O1 - Hosts: 70.38.11.165 lab.descary.com
O1 - Hosts: 70.38.11.165 review.fr.brothersoft.com
O1 - Hosts: 70.38.11.165 www.antilab-review.01net.com
O1 - Hosts: 70.38.11.165 www.review-lab.blogeek.ch
O1 - Hosts: 70.38.11.165 www.gr1.clubic.com
O1 - Hosts: 70.38.11.165 www.laboratory.commentcamarche.net
O1 - Hosts: 70.38.11.165 www.review.generation-nt.com
O1 - Hosts: 70.38.11.165 www.top-rev.host.fr
O1 - Hosts: 70.38.11.165 www.expert.infos-du-net.com
O1 - Hosts: 70.38.11.165 www.review.numerama.com
O1 - Hosts: 70.38.11.165 www.lab1-r.starzik.com
O1 - Hosts: 70.38.11.165 review-tests.italian.ircfast.com
O1 - Hosts: 70.38.11.165 www.labs.b2b24.ilsole24ore.com
O1 - Hosts: 70.38.11.165 www.ref1.blogslab.net
O1 - Hosts: 70.38.11.165 www.review.dvdprice.it
O1 - Hosts: 70.38.11.165 www.reviews.ebizitalia.it
O1 - Hosts: 70.38.11.165 www.review-software.hwgadget.com
O1 - Hosts: 70.38.11.165 www.exp-test.hwupgrade.it
O1 - Hosts: 70.38.11.165 www.full-reiew.lolasoft.it
O1 - Hosts: 70.38.11.165 www.dkl23.mondotechblog.com
O1 - Hosts: 70.38.11.165 www.antiviruses.sicurezzainrete.com
O1 - Hosts: 70.38.11.165 www.top.tomshw.it
O1 - Hosts: 70.38.11.165 avangate.com
O1 - Hosts: 70.38.11.165 regnow.com
O1 - Hosts: 70.38.11.165 shareit.com
O1 - Hosts: 70.38.11.165 eSellerate.net
O2 - BHO: BhoApp - {9d541c6a-573b-4888-b35e-6816e68c3620} - C:\Program Files\Antivirus\AvBho.dll
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [Antivirus.exe] C:\Program Files\Antivirus\Antivirus.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [wscsvc32.exe] C:\Program Files\Antivirus\wscsvc32.exe

Guide Updates:

10/08/09 - Initial guide creation.

Automated Removal Instructions for Antivirus using Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware:

1. Print out these instructions as we will need to close every window that is open later in the fix.
   
   
2. Download Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware, or MBAM, from the following location and save it to your desktop:
   
   Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware Download Link
   
   


3. Once downloaded, close all programs and Windows on your computer, including this one.
   
   
4. Double-click on the icon on your desktop named mbam-setup.exe. This will start the installation of MBAM onto your computer.
   
   
5. When the installation begins, keep following the prompts in order to continue with the installation process. Do not make any changes to default settings and when the program has finished installing, make sure you leave both the Update Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware and Launch Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware checked. Then click on the Finish button.
   
   
6. MBAM will now automatically start and you will see a message stating that you should update the program before performing a scan. As MBAM will automatically update itself after the install, you can press the OK button to close that box and you will now be at the main program as shown below.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
7. On the Scanner tab, make sure the the Perform quick scan option is selected and then click on the Scan button to start scanning your computer for Antivirus related files.
   
   
8. MBAM will now start scanning your computer for malware. This process can take quite a while, so we suggest you go and do something else and periodically check on the status of the scan. When MBAM is scanning it will look like the image below.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
9. When the scan is finished a message box will appear as shown in the image below.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   You should click on the OK button to close the message box and continue with the Antivirus removal process.
   
   
10. You will now be back at the main Scanner screen. At this point you should click on the Show Results button.
    
    
11. A screen displaying all the malware that the program found will be shown as seen in the image below. Please note that the infections found may be different than what is shown in the image.
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    You should now click on the Remove Selected button to remove all the listed malware. MBAM will now delete all of the files and registry keys and add them to the programs quarantine. When removing the files, MBAM may require a reboot in order to remove some of them. If it displays a message stating that it needs to reboot, please allow it to do so. Once your computer has rebooted, and you are logged in, please continue with the rest of the steps.
    
    
12. When MBAM has finished removing the malware, it will open the scan log and display it in Notepad. Review the log as desired, and then close the Notepad window.
    
    
13. You can now exit the MBAM program.
    

Your computer should now be free of the Antivirus program. If your current anti-virus solution let this infection through, you may want to consider purchasing the PRO version of Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware to protect against these types of threats in the future.

If you are still having problems with your computer after completing these instructions, then please follow the steps outlined in the topic linked below:

Preparation Guide For Use Before Posting A Hijackthis Log

Associated Antivirus Files:

c:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Desktop\Antivirus.lnk
c:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Antivirus
c:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Antivirus\Antivirus.lnk
c:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Antivirus\Uninstall.lnk
%AppData%\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\Antivirus.lnk
%Temp%\winupd64x.exe
c:\Program Files\Antivirus
c:\Program Files\Antivirus\Antivirus.exe
c:\Program Files\Antivirus\AvBho.dll
c:\Program Files\Antivirus\Uninstall.exe
c:\Program Files\Antivirus\wscsvc32.exe

Associated Antivirus Windows Registry Information:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AvBho.AvBhoApp
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AvBho.AvBhoApp.1
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{9d541c6a-573b-4888-b35e-6816e68c3620}
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Interface\{967A494A-6AEC-4555-9CAF-FA6EB00ACF91}
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Interface\{9692BE2F-EB8F-49D9-A11C-C24C1EF734D5}
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\TypeLib\{65DA0CE6-30D1-4144-A0B6-59BD01372E26}
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Antivirus
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Browser Helper Objects\{9d541c6a-573b-4888-b35e-6816e68c3620}
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\Antivirus
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run "Antivirus.exe"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run "wscsvc32.exe"